Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXI, No. 4, October 1847Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXI, No. 4, October 1847
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
All was quiet and still in that Indian camp—the smoke curled gracefully
but slowly up from the almost extinguished fires of those who remained
to guard the village of the Pinxies; some few children were playing
about, and one or two old squaws were weaving baskets beside their huts,
but there was only one man visible, and he might easily have been
mistaken for a statue, so motionless did he lie stretched out before the
door of one of the principal lodges of the camp. The clear note of a
whippowil sounded through the wood, and the Indian moved—again it
sounded, and he half rose from his recumbent posture; it sounded nearer
and clearer and the young Indian sprung to his feet, just as the
laughing face of a girl peered out from the side of the lodge. She was
slight and childlike in her form, and her hair, which was fastened back
with a wreath of bright red flowers, fell almost to her feet; she held
her bow and arrows in one hand, and in the other a dead bird. She called
him in a sweet, musical voice to come and see the bird, but he pointed
to the door of the lodge before which he stood, and shook his head.
Nainee was vexed, and turning her back to him, she began to shoot her
arrows at every thing she saw, and finally tossing her little head, and
throwing back her hair, she moved away; but curiosity conquered pride,
and just as her lover began to wish he had detained her, she returned,
and taking a flower from her hair, pressed it to her lips and threw it
on the ground before her lover. He moved from his post to get the
flower, and as he bent down, Nainee placing her hand on his shoulder,
bounded by him, and ere the astonished Indian could prevent her, she had
lifted the skin that served for a door, and passed into the lodge. A low
laugh escaped from the Indian; he knew that Nainee could be trusted;
that the secret was still safe—and he was pleased with her daring and
cunning; she could hit a bird on the wing—she could outrun the deer,
and now she had cunningly foiled him. “Yes, Nainee was indeed worthy of
a brave Indian’s love.”
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